ArtNet Fixture Cues

ArtNet fixture cues are WATCHOUT's mechanism for controlling DMX lighting fixtures directly from the timeline, combining fixture definitions with tween-based automation to output Art-Net DMX data at 44 frames per second. Instead of requiring a separate lighting console, fixture cues let you embed DMX channel control alongside your visual and audio cues on the same timeline, keeping lighting changes precisely synchronized with media playback. Understanding how fixture definitions, addressing, channel resolutions, and recording interact is essential for any show that integrates DMX-controlled devices.

What ArtNet Fixture Cues Are

An ArtNet fixture cue is a specialized media cue that includes Art-Net configuration in its properties. The cue references an Art-Net Fixture asset that defines the fixture's channel layout, and the cue's tween data drives the value of each channel over time. At playback, WATCHOUT evaluates the tween values for every active fixture channel and transmits them as Art-Net DMX packets on the network.

The key components are:

• Fixture asset-defines the fixture type, its available modes, and the channels within each mode.
• Cue addressing-specifies which Art-Net universe and start channel the fixture occupies.
• Tween automation-each channel is controlled by an Art-Net tween keyframe, using any of the standard 31 easing curves.
• Optional recording-pre-captured DMX data can be layered on top of tween values for complex playback.

Together, these allow a single timeline cue to drive one fixture instance across its full channel range with frame-accurate automation.

Fixture Definitions

Every ArtNet fixture cue is backed by an Art-Net Fixture asset that describes the fixture's identity and capabilities.

The fixture definition contains:

Field	Purpose
Name	Fixture name
Long Name	Descriptive long name
Short Name	Abbreviated name for compact UI display
Description	Fixture description
Fixture Type ID	Unique identifier for the fixture type
Modes	List of available fixture modes

Each ArtNetFixtureMode defines:

Field	Purpose
name	Mode name (e.g., "Coarse (8bit)")
description	Mode description
channels	List of channels available in this mode
relations	Channel relations (master/follower bindings)

Built-in Fixture Presets

WATCHOUT ships with two built-in fixture presets:

Preset	Modes
1ch Generic	Coarse (8bit), Fine (16bit), Ultra (24bit), Uber (32bit)
10ch Generic	Coarse (8bit), Fine (16bit), Ultra (24bit), Uber (32bit)

The 1-channel generic is useful for single-parameter devices such as dimmers or simple relay triggers. The 10-channel generic covers fixtures that need multiple independently controlled parameters. Both presets expose all four resolution modes, allowing you to select the precision appropriate for your device.

Channel Resolutions

Each channel in a fixture mode has a resolution that determines its bit depth and how many consecutive DMX addresses it occupies. WATCHOUT supports the following channel resolutions:

Resolution	Bit Depth	DMX Addresses	Description
Coarse	8-bit	1	Standard DMX precision; one address per channel
Fine	16-bit	2	High precision; occupies two consecutive addresses
Ultra	24-bit	3	Very high precision; occupies three consecutive addresses
Uber	32-bit	4	Maximum precision; occupies four consecutive addresses
Virtual	-	0	No physical DMX address; used for internal logic only

Each channel (regardless of resolution) carries common properties:

Property	Purpose
offset	DMX address offset(s) within the fixture's footprint
Display Name	Name shown in the UI
name	Internal identifier
default	Default channel value
highlight	Highlight value (used for identification during setup)
capabilities	Channel capability descriptors

Creating Fixture Assets

Before you can add a fixture cue to the timeline, you need a fixture asset in the Asset Manager.

1. Open the Assets window.
2. Right-click in the asset list and select Add ArtNet Fixture... from the context menu.
3. Select a fixture preset from the available options (1ch Generic or 10ch Generic).
4. The fixture asset appears in the Assets window and is ready to use.

Fixture assets do not require optimization-they are definition files, not media. They appear under the Art-Net Fixture type in the asset list. See Asset Types for details on how Art-Net assets are classified.

Adding Fixture Cues to the Timeline

The workflow for placing a fixture cue follows the same pattern as other media cues (see Adding Media Cues), with fixture-specific configuration afterward:

1. Locate the fixture asset in the Assets window.
2. Drag the fixture asset onto the target timeline at the desired start time and layer.
3. Drop the cue to commit placement. The cue is created with default fixture settings.
4. Open the Properties panel for the new cue. A Fixture section appears because the cue references an Art-Net Fixture asset.
5. Set the universe and start channel to match your DMX infrastructure.
6. Select the fixture mode that matches the physical fixture's operating mode.
7. Add tween keyframes to automate channel values over time. Each fixture channel appears as an available Artnet tween type.
8. Optionally attach a recording to layer pre-captured DMX data onto the tween automation.

Fixture Cue Properties

When a cue references an Art-Net Fixture asset, the following Art-Net settings are available in the Properties panel:

Setting	Purpose	Notes
Name	Fixture instance name	Identifies this specific fixture cue
Start Universe	Absolute universe number (0--32767)	See Universe Addressing for how this maps to Net/Sub-Net/Universe
Start Channel	Channel within universe (0--511)	First DMX address for this fixture
Selected Mode	Index into the fixture's modes list	Determines which channel layout is active
Relations	Channel relation overrides	Master/follower bindings; see Channel Relations
Recording Source	Reference to an Art-Net Recording asset	Links pre-captured DMX data to the cue

Universe Addressing

WATCHOUT uses an absolute universe number (range 0--32767) for Art-Net addressing. This single value maps to the standard Art-Net hierarchy of Net, Sub-Net, and Universe:

Component	Range	Calculation from Absolute Value
Universe	0--15	Absolute value mod 16
Sub-Net	0--15	(Absolute value / 16) mod 16
Net	0--127	Absolute value / 256

For example, absolute universe 289 maps to: Universe = 289 mod 16 = 1, Sub-Net = (289 / 16) mod 16 = 2, Net = 289 / 256 = 1. This corresponds to Net 1, Sub-Net 2, Universe 1.

Channel Relations

Channel relations define dependencies between channels within a fixture mode. Each relation specifies:

Field	Purpose
master	Name of the master channel
follower	Name of the follower channel
kind	Relation type: Override or Multiply

The two relation types behave differently:

• Override-the master channel's value replaces the follower channel's value entirely. When the master is active, the follower's own tween value is ignored.
• Multiply-the master channel's value is multiplied with the follower channel's value. This is commonly used for master dimmer relationships where a global intensity channel scales individual channel outputs.

Relations are defined in the fixture mode and can be overridden per-cue through the cue's Art-Net settings.

ArtNet Recording

ArtNet Recording assets capture live DMX data for playback on the timeline. This is useful for replaying complex lighting sequences that were programmed on an external console, or for capturing live performance data.

Recording Format

Recordings capture a sequence of DMX frames with precise timestamps:

• Header — metadata describing the recording session (source universes, channel count, etc.)
• Frames — one entry per captured frame, each with a timestamp and the channel values at that moment.

During optimization, the raw recording is processed into an efficient playback format. You do not need to manage these files directly — WATCHOUT handles the conversion automatically.

How Recorded Values Combine with Tweens

Recorded values do not replace tween automation — they multiply with it. The tween value acts as a scaling factor for the recorded data:

• A tween value at full (255 for 8-bit) passes the recorded value through unchanged.
• A tween value at half (128) halves the recorded value.
• A tween value of 0 suppresses the recorded value entirely, regardless of what was captured.

This multiplicative relationship lets you use tween keyframes as a master intensity control over recorded data.

Output Behavior

WATCHOUT transmits Art-Net DMX data at a fixed rate of 44 frames per second. This rate applies to all fixture cues uniformly and is not configurable per-cue.

At each output frame, WATCHOUT:

1. Evaluates every active fixture cue's tween values at the current timeline position.
2. Applies any recording data multiplication.
3. Packs the channel values into Art-Net DMX packets addressed to the configured universe and channel.
4. Transmits the packets on the network.

All standard tween easing curves are available for fixture channels, providing smooth transitions between values. The Art-Net tween type is dedicated to fixture channel automation and behaves identically to other tween types in terms of keyframe interpolation and curve selection.

Art-Net Recorder Application

WATCHOUT includes a standalone Art-Net Recorder application, installed in the same folder as WATCHOUT. A desktop shortcut is created during installation. Double-click the shortcut to launch the recorder.

The Art-Net Recorder captures real-time Art-Net data from a specific universe, which can then be imported into WATCHOUT and placed on the timeline as a cue.

Configuration

The top-left area of the application contains universe addressing with three parameters:

Parameter	Description	Range
Net	Universe start address in steps of 256 universes	0--127
Subnet	Universe start address in steps of 16 universes	0--15
Universe	Universe start address in steps of single universes	0--15

The resulting absolute universe is calculated as: Net × 256 + Subnet × 16 + Universe (range 0--32767).

The lower area of the application displays all 512 individual channels of one Art-Net universe. You can select all channels or pick individual channels to record.

Recording Workflow

1. Configure the universe settings (Net, Subnet, Universe) to match the source you want to capture.
2. Select the channels to record — either all 512 or a custom selection.
3. Press Record to start capturing.
4. During recording, the application displays the recorded time, Art-Net packages per second, and total packages recorded. Each channel shows its current level through color intensity.
5. Press Stop to end the recording.
6. After stopping, you can Jump back to review, Play a preview, Save the recording (to an .ndjson file), or Discard it.

Using Recordings in WATCHOUT

1. Import the saved .ndjson file into WATCHOUT by dragging it into the Assets window, or via File > New Media File.
2. Drag the Art-Net recording asset from the Assets window onto a timeline to create a cue.
3. WATCHOUT creates tween layers for each recorded channel automatically.
4. The default maximum value is 100%, shown in the tween area. This can be overridden as needed.

Art-Net Recording Cue Properties

When a cue references an Art-Net recording asset, the following properties are available:

Property	Purpose
Name	Cue instance name
Start Time	Timeline position where the cue begins
Duration	Length of the cue on the timeline
Free Running	Activates cue play state regardless of the Timeline's play state
Looping	Activates looping of the recording
In-time	Offset into the recording where playback starts
Net / Sub-Net / Universe / Universe (absolute)	Art-Net addressing for output
Channel	Base channel address for output
Asset Version	Which version of the referenced asset to use

Channel Remapping

At the bottom of the cue's Properties panel there is a channel remapping table. This table allows you to change the mapping between the recorded Art-Net channels and the playback output channels, giving you flexibility to redirect captured data to different physical addresses without re-recording.

Limitations

• Not supported inside compositions. Placing an ArtNet fixture cue on a composition timeline results in an error log and the cue is skipped at playback. Fixture cues must be placed on the main timeline only.
• Channels can span universe boundaries. If a fixture's channel footprint extends beyond DMX address 511, WATCHOUT wraps into the next universe. This is handled automatically but can cause unexpected address conflicts if adjacent universes are already in use.
• Fixed output rate. The 44 FPS Art-Net output rate cannot be changed. For most lighting fixtures this is well within acceptable refresh rates, but it is a fixed system parameter.

Best Practices

• Lock addressing early. Agree on universe and channel assignments with your lighting team before building fixture cues. Changing addresses after cues are built requires updating every affected cue individually.
• Use the lowest sufficient resolution. Most DMX fixtures operate at 8-bit (Coarse). Selecting Fine, Ultra, or Uber modes on fixtures that do not support high-resolution channels wastes DMX addresses and adds no benefit.
• Name fixture instances descriptively. Use the fixture cue's Name field to identify the physical device (e.g., "House Dimmer Rack A" or "Spot USL"). This makes large shows with many fixture cues navigable.
• Validate on the production network. Art-Net packets are transmitted over the network. Always test fixture output on the same network infrastructure used in production to catch routing, firewall, or subnet issues before the show.
• Use recordings for complex sequences. If a lighting look was programmed on an external console, record it and attach the recording to a fixture cue rather than manually recreating it with tween keyframes. This preserves the original timing and nuance.
• Control recordings with tweens. Because recorded values multiply with tween values, you can use a simple tween fade to bring a recording in and out without editing the recording data itself.
• Document non-default universe assignments. Record which universe and channel ranges are assigned to which fixtures in your show documentation. This is critical for troubleshooting and show handoff.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
Fixture cue has no effect on stage	Universe or start channel does not match the physical fixture's patch	Verify addressing in the cue's Properties panel against the fixture's DMX patch sheet
Fixture cue ignored during playback	Cue is placed inside a composition timeline	Move the fixture cue to the main timeline; fixture cues inside compositions are not supported
Channels controlling the wrong parameters	Selected mode does not match the fixture's operating mode	Change the Selected Mode in cue properties to match the fixture's current DMX mode
Unexpected values on adjacent universes	Fixture's channel footprint wraps past address 511	Adjust the start channel so all channels fit within a single universe, or account for the wrap in your addressing plan
Recording plays at wrong intensity	Tween values are not at maximum	Set tween channel values to 255 (full) to pass recorded values through unscaled
Sudden jumps in channel output	Missing tween keyframes between cue regions	Add intermediate keyframes with appropriate easing curves to smooth transitions
No Art-Net packets on network	Network configuration or routing issue	Verify the WATCHOUT machine's network adapter is on the correct subnet for Art-Net (typically 2.x.x.x or 10.x.x.x); check firewall rules
Channel values appear scaled down	Channel relation set to Multiply with a master channel below full	Check channel relations and verify the master channel's tween value